Prepare for Your Dog's Whelping

How can I tell if my dog is in labour?

My dog is 3 years old. She is in the last 2 weeks of her pregnancy. She has started leaking fluid from her vulva and will not settle. Is this the first stages of labour? I need to know so that I know what to do at the right stages.

The first stage of labour is when your dog becomes restless. She is having contractions, and because they are painful and confusing, she will walk around. The second stage is when fluid will begin leaking, as the dog's vagina gets ready for birth. When each puppy comes out, make sure your dog bites the umbilical cord and licks the puppy clean. Licking the puppy will stimulate breathing; if the dog does not do this, take the sac off of the puppy, remove excess fluid and mucus from its face, and rub the puppy so it will breathe. Then cut the umbilical cord an inch above the puppy's stomach. The third and final stage of labor is when the dog's uterus fully contracts to get rid of any excess fluids that stayed inside of her.

If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

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